Sherdog’s Top 10: Giant Killers

Ice-Cold Killer

The owner of 36-fight unbeaten streak and a finalist in the 2000
Pride Fighting Championships heavyweight grand prix,
Vovchanchyn was at one time considered to be the world’s best
heavyweight, this despite the fact that the Ukrainian stood
5-foot-9 and would eventually drop to fight at 205 pounds. Light
heavyweight was even something of a stretch for “Ice Cold” -- in
today’s climate, his ideal home would likely be at
middleweight.

One of the most feared strikers of the 1990s, Vovchanchyn made up
for his lack of grappling prowess with fast hands, brutal knees and
whipping kicks. The kickboxer was a master of the eight-man
tournament; his seven victories in various versions of the
three-fights-in-one-night format are believed to be the most in MMA
history.

During a career that spanned roughly a decade, size was no
obstacle, as Vovchanchyn accumulated 55 victories -- 29 by knockout
or technical knockout. He could also be creative, as video footage
shows him forcing an opponent to cry uncle with head butts from his
back, and it is often suggested that Fedor
Emelianenko emulated his style of punching.

“That’s true, but only to some extent,” Vovchanchyn told Bloody
Elbow. “More people were trying to imitate it, including Japanese
[fighters]. They called it ‘Igor Vovchanchyn’ punching. I can
remember myself entering a gym there and seeing everyone practicing
my style of punching.”

It is not surprising that his style was imitated, considering that
any “Ice Cold” highlight reel is violence at its uninhibited best.
A roundhouse kick courtesy of Mirko “Cro
Cop” Filipovic spelled the end of Vovchanchyn’s run at
heavyweight in 2003, and he left the sport for good in 2005 at age
32.